Rather than create a PDF, this utility converts PDFs into PowerPoint presentations, fully editable in PPTX format by PowerPoint Mac 2008/2011. You can even batch convert up to 50 PDFs at a time. • Available in the Mac App Store

REMOTE CONTROL

104. Chicken of the VNC Chicken of the VNC uses a small client to create a remote control connection between Macs so you can see the screen of another computer on yours and take full control of that remote system.

105. CrossLoop Remote Access CrossLoop can provide either straight-up screen sharing in just minutes, or a full remote control access that includes unlimited file transfers and even mobile access via Android smartphones. To access more than one computer, you'll need to subscribe starting at $19.50 a year.

106. LogMeIn Free LogMeIn Free only needs software installed on the remote machine—you access the remote one by logging in at LogMeIn.com on your Web browser. From there, you can chat or whiteboard. You only pay if you want features such as file transfers and desktop sharing.

107. ShareMouse Rather than remotely controling a Windows or Mac system that's actually remote, what about one that's right next to you? ShareMouse is software that lets you use one keyboard and mouse to control multiple systems sitting side-by-side, as long as they're on the same network. Restrictions apply to power users.

With software on both ends of the connection, your Mac can control or be controlled, even by an iOS device over the Web. Simply enter the ID of the remote machine along with a password, both provided by that machine's owner, to connect and take control. TeamViewer even shows your local desktop on the remote machine and can transfer files all you want.

RSS READERS

109. Gruml Do you love Google Reader but wish it came as a desktop app for Mac? Gruml is the front end you've been looking for that manages your Google Reader account without the browser.

Free of NewsGator and ready for Google Reader syncing, NetNewsWire provides ad-supported RSS reading for free. (For $15, you can get rid of the ads.)

111. Vienna With a plug-in architecture that lets it share with social networks and user-provided skins, you can customize the way the Mac-only Vienna shows your feeds.

SECURITY

112. DashlaneDashlane stores passwords in the cloud, but keeps track of all your online purchases and filled out online forms locally, so you can organize them. All of the data is encrypted, both on your drive and on the Internet, and only your personal master password can provide access. Dashlane is also now available for iPhone.

113. LastPass A five-star product in its Windows incarnation, LastPass is still a must for the Mac. It manages all your passwords for all your devices and sites, plus stores secured notes, auto-fills forms, and logs you into sites as needed, all with a single master password.

Password Pad is a notebook for storing encrypted data to access later on your desktop. It's perfect for keeping passwords, secrets, or even a diary. The lite version uses XOR encryption instead of the Triple DES in the full $4.99 version. • Available in the Mac App Store

115. TrueCrypt Your secret data isn't truly secret until it's encrypted. TrueCrypt will handle the job with AES-256-level encryption, for just a folder or an entire drive.

About the Author

Eric narrowly averted a career in food service when he began in tech publishing at Ziff-Davis over 20 years ago. He was on the founding staff of Windows Sources, FamilyPC, and Access Internet Magazine (all defunct, and it's not his fault). He's the author of two novels, BETA TEST ("an unusually lighthearted apocalyptic tale"--Publishers' Weekly) an... See Full Bio

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.